Today, the Decemberists' most recent effort is the subject of admiration. ALL HAIL THE HAZARDS OF LOVE!
Who writes this stuff? Indie folk band The Decemberists, along with knockout female vocals from Lavender Diamond and My Brightest Diamond frontladies, guitar from cult icon Robyn Hitchcock, and more!
What's the story (morning glory)? A Shakespearean tragedy akin to "Romeo and Juliet," except Romeo is a shape-shifted fawn-cum-human named William. A fair maiden named Margaret encounters William as a injured fawn in the forest and, upon fixing his leg, finds the fawn to be a human. She does what any normal girl would and winds up impregnated by the man-beast.
William's mum, the Queen (of the actual forest), is displeased with the William's interactions with human world. She hires a human named The Rake to kidnap and molest Margaret as punishment to William. The Rake (no stranger to crime, including infanticide) obliges, and William (ignorant of his mom's actions) begs the Queen to let him rescue her, allowing her his "life for the evening ... [to] retake by morning."
William then makes a deal with the treacherous water surrounding Margaret that the water may drown him on his return trip if it allows him safe passage to his love. When William encounters the Rake, the ghosts of his three children take their revenge and murder their father. As our star-crossed protagonists board their sea vessel, they realize that only in death can they peacefully be together, so they hold an impromptu wedding as the water claims their lives.
Why should you care (my 50-word review)? The Decemberists always leaned on grandiose lyrics, stellar melodies, and a deference to the archaic. On The Hazards of Love, they meld such cornerstones perfectly-with some surprises. They contrast Pink Floyd-esque folk-psychadelia, Black Sabbath guitar thunder, and powerhouse female vox for intense auditory drama. A masterpiece meant for the stage.
If you only listen to one song on the album... Make it "The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid." It's everything great about the LP in 6:26, showcasing the album's biopolar tendencies to maximum effect.
What do you think? Have you already heard this album? If you haven't, are you moved to?
Let's talk, kids.
Never heard them before....not bad.
ReplyDeleteThey are a very unique band. Best part about them is that they write ALBUMS, not songs, so when they have an idea or inspiration, the genius seeps through on all tracks, not just some. I'll make you a Decemberists mix.
ReplyDeleteThis album is so good! I must go listen to it now... thanks!
ReplyDeletepretty good find...still need to find the right mood to listen to them though. I remember you illustrating this song on the way back from PHX.
ReplyDeleteI want to make the comment for those of you who aren't familiar with concept albums, Chuck can singlehandedly talk you into appreciating albums for what they were designed to do...and march on the streets of Washington to protest the uprise of the MP3. Chuck really opened my eyes to the world of ALBUMS as a whole and how much time and creative energy artists really put in the album, and even the sequence of songs in the order that they are in...their meaning. I used to be that wide-eyed music lover that bounced around tracks, looking for that song that made me buy the album in the first place, then listening to the singles...and then if the album was lucky listen to the undesired/unknown tracks by purely the grace of God. Now when I purchase albums, I always think of Chuck's badge of honor and listen from Track 1-12(???beyond). So when Chuck speaks of the album as a whole, please do your ears and soul a favor...listen.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Branden, for the big-ups. I will preach more about the concept album, but you pretty much nailed the essence of why I think concept albums are important. Shuffle is a wonderful tool at parties, but if you are actually listening to an artist, beginning to end is the only way to hear it.
ReplyDelete